Researcsh Plan

Mechanical Activity of Banana (Lakatan) Leaves (Musa acuminata) as an Alternative

Component of Fiberglass

Duldulao, Hyacinth Louise R.

Balansag, Kyra Ven P.
Gabato, Johnzelle Faye R.

A. Rationale
Fiberglass is known as a fiber reinforced plastic using glass fibers. It is made from heated
glass. When the glass is already molten, it is then forced through superfine holes, creating glass
filaments that are very thin. These threads can be woven into larger swatches of material. Different
resins mat then be added to it once it is woven together to give it added strength. Fiberglass is light,
durable and strong. It is impact resistant, corrosion resistant and has a moderate high strength to
weight ratio, because of its highly flexible material it is used in various household materials and
industries. Chaudhary (2018) Globally, glass fibre demand is set to post annual growth of 7% by
2017. The most extensive use of glass fibre is as raw material for composite materials. Glass fibre
accounts for about 90% of the reinforcements used in composite consumption globally. Glass fiber
composite materials are used in an increasingly wide variety of applications: at the moment,
primarily the automotive and transport sectors, the electrical/electronics industry and the
construction industry. Other markets for composite materials include pipes and tanks, agricultural
equipment, industrial machinery, wind-turbine blades and the sports, leisure and marine sectors
(Klopfer, 2009).
In our generation today, the use of plant fibers in the construction and household material is
growing rapidly due to its cost effectiveness, good mechanical properties, light weight, lower
health hazard and eco-friendly. (Parveen 2017) However, there is an increasing interest worldwide
in developing fiber composites from natural fiber containing materials and plants like abaca.
However, the supply and fiber yields of these plants may be limited and other supply of fibers
must be explored. Barona (2005).

B. Questions/Problem
The following research questions are the main points of the problem of the study:
1. Does the banana leaf fiber has a great potential as a component of fiberglass, can hold weight
and withstand the different mechanical tests?
2. Is the banana leaf fiberglass can be more effective than the commercially available fiberglass?

C. Goals/Expected Outcomes/Hypothesis
The main goal of this study is to prove that the banana leaf fibers can be a great alternative
component of fiberglass in the fiberglass fabrication that can be environment safe and pocket
friendly.

Alternative Hypothesis:
If banana leaf fiber were used in the fabrication of the fiberglass, then it would produce a durable
and strong fiberglass that can compete with the commercially available of the said product.

D. Description in Detail of Methods or Procedures

D. 1 Procedures

A. Gathering of Materials
The researchers will gather banana lakatan leaves (Musa acuminata) from one of the researcher’s
banana garden in Ma-a, Davao City. The researcher will assure that the leaves are fresh, mature,
and of good quality since it was organically grown. The researchers will buy Polyester Resin,
Polymer Methyl Ethyl Ketone Peroxide (MEKP), fiber mat, and circular aluminum molds. The
researchers will borrow a height measuring scale at Davao City National High School’s Clinic and
will borrow et of weights, beakers, iron stand, iron ring, and a meter stick from Davao City
National High School’s Science Laboratory.

B. Plant Authentication
The plant sample will be authenticated by Mrs. Orcheliza Paramo PhD, a local plant taxonomist
of Davao City National High School.

C. Retting Activity of Banana Leaves

The banana leaves will be soaked in tap water on a large container for 2 days on one of the
researcher’s household. Each day, the researchers will check the soaked leaves to maintain its good
quality. This will be necessary for this study since the purpose of soaking the leaves is to make it
easier to scrape and to obtain the fibers from the leaves in a convenient way.
D. Collection of Banana Leaf Fibers
After soaking the banana leaves for 2 days, the researchers will manually scrape the fibers
from the leaves using ceramic plates and a scraper to obtain the banana fibers and the researchers
ensured each other’s safety by using each one’s personal protective equipment (PPE) specifically
masks and gloves. After the collection of the fibers, the researchers will dry the banana leaf fibers
under the sun for 24 hours.

E. Casting of Fiberglass
The fibers will be placed at the bottom of the aluminum mold container. A mixture of
Polymer Methyl Ethyl Ketone Peroxide and Polyester Resin will be mixed in a ratio of the mass
of the said liquids, 10% of 100% of the Polymer Methyl Ketone Peroxide’s mass was added on
the Polyester Resin. The mixture will be mixed properly for two minutes in room temperature, the
researchers assured that they scraped the sides and the bottom of the container when mixing. It
was then applied to the banana fibers using a paintbrush to create a layer then let it dry for 30
minutes and place again another mat of banana fiber above, then the mixture again will be applied.
The researchers will be assisted by a professional fiberglass maker in doing the whole process at
Davao Fiberglass Fabrication and Repair, Phase 4, Dona Asuncion Pampanga Village, Doña Pilar,
Davao City.

D. 2 Mechanical Properties Testing

The researchers will test various mechanical properties such as fiber tensile strength test,
fiberglass load test, and fiberglass fatigue resistance test using manual equipments and methods
on the banana leaf fiber and on the banana leaf fiberglass and commercial fiberglass.

I. Fiber Tensile Strength

The researchers will measure the tensile strength of the banana leaf fibers using a ring stand, an
iron ring, and a set of weights. The banana leaf fibers will be tied on the iron ring and different
amount of weights were hanged on the banana leaf fibers. (Kampe, 2012).

II. Fiberglass Load Test

For the Fiberglass Load Test, the researchers will conduct two tests. First, the researchers tested
the stiffness of the fiberglass using an iron ring stand. The ring stand will be used as a support for
the fiberglass and different amount of weights were placed on top of the product and observed if
there are cracks. Second, the researchers tested the stiffness of the fiberglass by letting human
participants of different weights to step on the fiberglass.
III. Fiberglass Fatigue Resistance
The researchers will test the fatigue resistance of the fiberglass by dropping it on various height
levels. A crack will be an indication that it is the maximum fatigue resistance of the fiberglass.
(Taylor, 2010).

D.3 Data Analysis

The mechanical ability of the banana leaf fiber as an alternative component of fiberglass
will be determined by conducting several tests such as: Fiber tensile strength, fiberglass load test
and fiberglass fatigue resistance using qualitative observation. The tensile strength of the fibers,
the stiffness and the fatigue resistance of the fiberglass will be measured.

D. 4 Risk and Safety / Proper Waste Disposal

The researchers will place the banana leaves waste after the collection of the fibers in a
black bag and will be disposed properly. The used Polyester Resin and Polymer Methyl Ethyl
Ketone Peroxide(MEKP) will be placed in their own plastic containers, it will be tightly sealed,and
thrown in the residual waste bin. The researchers will clean and sterilize the apparatuses they
borrowed and return it to the said local laboratory.
Research Design
The researchers' will use qualitative observation in which they will assess the results of
the different mechanical properties tests.

Table 1. Banana Leaf Fiber (Tensile Strength)

Weight (g) Remarks
1 300g
2 500g
3 800g
4 1000g
.
Table 2. Banana Leaf Fiberglass (First test-set of weights)
Weight(g) Remarks
1 1500 grams
2 1700 grams
3 2000 grams
4 2250 grams

Table 3. Commercial Fiberglass (First test-set of weights)

Weight(g) Remarks
1 1500 grams
2 1700 grams
3 2000 grams
4 2250 grams

Table 4. Banana Leaf Fiberglass (Second Test-human)

Weight (kg) Remarks
1 45 kilograms
2 58 kilograms
3 67 kilograms
4 85 kilograms
Table 5. Commercial Fiberglass (Second test-human)
Weight (kg) Remarks
1 45 kilograms
2 58 kilograms
3 67 kilograms
4 85 kilograms

Table 6. Banana Leaf Fiberglass (Fatigue Resistance)

Height(ft.) Remarks
1 3 ft.
2 4 ft.
3 5 ft.
4 6 ft.

Table 7. Commercial Fiberglass (Fatigue Resistance)

Height(ft.) Remarks
1 3 ft.
2 4 ft.
3 5 ft.
4 6 ft.
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